Somewhere Between Water and Sky (Shattered Things #2) (35 page)

I shake my head slightly as they talk in hurried whispers.

What is even happening?

Max walks back into the office and rubs his face with the palms of his hands. Grabbing the coffee cup on his desk, he downs what
’
s left in two gulps and sets the cup on the nearest ledge. Unhooking the gun on his belt, he opens a drawer and then looks at me before slamming it shut.

“
We need a plan.
”

Jude looks up from his phone and stares.

“
We
’
re working on one. My men and I are highly trained in this area
—
you can
’
t just bust in and expect nothing to happen. You have to treat these situations as though everything will go wrong.
”

Max blinks and Jude continues.

“
You let a fugitive walk through this station and kidnap a girl. Your first priority? Tighten those lips. If the media gets wind of this
…
.
”

Max smiles.
“
I think you underestimate the professionalism of my men.
”

Jude just shrugs.
“
We
’
ll see.
”
Turning to Kevin, he points at me.

“
Stay with her until we get to the parking garage. We
’
ll have men surrounding the area in civilian clothes. Two men will be posted as homeless on either side of the street.
”
He turns and looks at me.
“
Stephanie, you
’
ll walk in alone. We
’
ll be watching you and within gunshot range.
”

Kevin crosses his arms.
“
Where do you want me to go after we drop her off?
”

Jude glances at Kevin and thinks for a moment.

“
Out of the way. We need certified officers dealing with this raid. You can stay in one of the convoy vans and be one of our eyes and ears.
”

Kevin twists his lips and I know he
’
s disappointed but he swallows it and offers Jude a smile.

“
Okay. I can do that.
”
He reaches out his hand and taps my arm.

“
Please be careful?
”

I smile slightly and lift my chin.

“
Of course.
”

Jude looks down and then back up at Max.
“
At my signal
—
and only my signal
—
we
’
ll rush Sam and get both Jessa and Stephanie out of there alive.
”
He studies all of our faces and a shadow crosses his eyes.

“
His life isn
’
t really a priority at this point.
”

Jude turns to walk out of the office and Max rushes to stop him.

“
You can
’
t mean that you
’
re wanting him shot. That
’
s not the way we do things
…”

Jude smiles slightly.
“
You really don
’
t know what this guy is capable of, do you?
”

Max frowns.
“
Apparently I
’
m going to find out.
”

I study my fingernails and feel the stress beginning to gather in my chest.
I
’
m going to see my father. I
’
m going to see my father.

Jude continues to debrief the gathering team and I sit alone at the desk, thoughts running wild through my mind. Everyone is scared of my father. Everyone seems to know what he
’
s capable of
—
what lengths he
’
ll go to in order to get his way. Of course, this does nothing to ease the anxiety and anger building blocks of solidity in my veins.

Something catches in my mind and I glance up, my eyes locking on Max
’
s desk drawers. I swallow.

Jude said nothing about me being armed when I faced my father. But I know Sam Tiller. I know the tricks he plays. There
’
s no going in prepared for what he may do because there
’
s never any knowing. There
’
s always something more
—
it
’
s never over.

I know that now.

I also know the depth my hate.

I take a quick glance at the men who
’
ve migrated into the hallway and in one fluid motion I lean forward, open the drawer and grab the gun. My breath lets out in a rush. I can
’
t believe he didn
’
t lock it. I feel the weight in my hands and something ticks inside. Benefit of living with a deranged psychopath for most of my life: I know how to use a gun. I check the safety and surreptitiously make sure bullets are locked and loaded.

A slow smile spreads across my face. Holding the frigid metal against my skin sparked life to the anger within these bones. I slowly set the gun in my purse and stand to make my way over to where the men are circled.

I
’
m coming, Jessa.

Jude catches my eyes and studies me.

“
Are you ready for this, Stephanie?
”

I am peace and anger and decisiveness.

“
I
’
m ready.
”

Kevin smiles at me from the periphery and I smile back.

A few months ago, he carried my broken and bloodied body out of a shed. Tonight, I will know what it feels like to be pieced back together by revenge.

Chapter Nineteen

They drop me off down the street
—
away from any visibility my father may have from the garage.

Jude steps out of the car for just a moment and puts his hands on my shoulders.

“
Remember, Stephanie. Just walk in, try and stall him for a few minutes, make sure Jessa is okay and we
’
ll be right behind you. You
’
re wired so we
’
ll know at any second if things go haywire.
”

I look up at him.

“
This is my dad we
’
re talking about
—
chaos is just part of the game. You should know that by now.
”

He nods and kisses me on the side of my head.

“
Please be careful. You don
’
t have to be a hero here. Just talk
—
ask questions. You know what will set him off.
”

I sigh and turn to walk down the street, my hands clenching and unclenching against my legs. I breathe in
—
one beat, two beats, three beats
—

and then breathe out
—
one beat, two beats, three beats.

I pass a homeless guy and look at him out of the corner of my eye. I know Jude has men everywhere, even in places I wouldn
’
t think to look, and so part of me wonders. I note his disheveled beard and clothes that barely hang on to his frame. There
’
s a shopping cart resting next to him with crusty blankets and miscellaneous belongings I
’
m sure were found in some dumpster. The man catches my eye and gives me a slight nod. I keep walking and fight the urge to turn around for a second look.

The parking garage looks different in the daytime. Gone is the dreamy quality of the early morning. It only fits, really. Sunrises are meant for hope
—
for new beginnings and friendships and cold bleachers snuggled against someone who loves you. Sunsets are for endings. I squint up at the sun and draw my arms closer around me.

My skin still feels on fire but I
’
m shivering.

I wonder. Is it possible for a heart to freeze when the flames lick around it?

I find the entrance to the garage and swallow, nervously fingering the gun hiding in my purse. I need to find a way I can grab it easily. I can
’
t just waltz into this situation with my hand stuck in my bag. My dad knows me too well. He
’
d know I was up to something. I swing my bag around toward my back and in the same motion manage to sneak the gun in the waistband of my skirt.

When the metal touches my skin, I sigh.

This I can handle.

I take one last look around before walking into the garage. When my eyes adjust to the shadows, I pause. I take a step and hear a crunching beneath my feet. When I look down, my vision blurs.

Broken lollipops line the ground leading to the staircase. My breath grows shallow as I realize how long it took him to do this and what it means.

Lollipop I will not stop.

The path looks like a shattered rainbow
—
all torn and ragged, the pieces of hardened sugar jutting up and out like CandyLand
’
s worst nightmare. I move slowly and methodically, each step bringing me closer to a monster.

.::.

I hear my dad before I see him.

“
Are you sure you don
’
t want a lollipop? I have a few that match your hair.
”

“
You are such a sick bastard. Step one foot closer and I
’
ll stab you with these stilettos again.
”

Laughter.

“
Oh I
’
d like to see you try, sweetheart. I
’
d like to see you try.
”

I smile and wince at the same time. If anyone can handle my father, I know it
’
s Jessa. But even still: knowing she
’
s
there
—
dealing with
him
—
it makes my heart fold in on herself. No one should have to deal with him. I peek around the corner and see my dad
’
s back. He
’
s pacing and looking over the ledge beneath him. Jessa is standing against a nearby pillar, tied with rope.

Her left eye is blackened, her lip is swollen, and her shirt is torn.

“
Motherfucker,
”
I whisper.

Jessa leans her head against the concrete behind her and squeezes her eyes shut. I can see her trying to breathe
—
her mouth is a small
“
o
”
and her chin is quivering.

She
’
s hurt.

I take a step and the candy crunches underneath my footing. The sound is barely noticeable, but Jessa
’
s eyes move quickly in my direction and a flash of recognition crosses her face. She glances at my father, still staring over the ledge, and then slowly moves her eyes toward the wall to my left.

“
Have you taken enough pictures yet, sicko?
”

My breath catches. There
’
s someone else. I move back behind the corner and press against the wall, waiting for a response.

“
Not even close.
”

My knees weaken and my hand flies up to my mouth. I bite down on my index finger to keep from making any noises. I would recognize that voice anywhere.

It
’
s my mom.

“
You know, when Stephanie was growing up she always wanted a sister. Would come up and ask me if she could have a twin
—
as if that was something I could just do for her.
”

I close my eyes and fight the dizziness.

“
Then, she goes off and gets our little boy taken from us. And then she takes my money. Moves out here as if she could start a new life without any recognition of what we did for her. Ain
’
t that right, baby?
”